Tip: Apply Skincare On Damp Skin For Better Absorption

I picked up this tip quite by chance and I’m sure everyone already knows about it but I’m going to repeat it anyway 🙂

Did you know or realise that applying your skincare on damp skin increases their absorption into your skin? I thought about this one day when I was applying my body oils. You are always advised to apply body lotions and oils on damp skin so it is always recommended that you do so right after showering when your skin has still got a thin layer of water on it.

So, I thought if this was the case for your body, what about your face? I personally haven’t come across many people that suggest this same tip for the face. So I gave it a go and am very happy with the result! I hope you’ll be too, if you try it 🙂

The concept is quite simple. If you imagine your skin as a sponge, it is easier to grasp the concept.

A dry sponge does not absorb much liquid. Its surprising, but its true. Try it and see if you don’t believe me 🙂 However, a damp (not wet) sponge will absorb and retain liquids better. So applying this concept to your skin, dry skin will absorb skincare, but it takes longer while damp skin will absorb much more quickly. If you use face oils or heavier creams, you will notice the benefit more obviously.

Damp skin however does not mean wet. So, its not like you splash water on your face, and while sopping wet, slap on skincare. Damp skin would mean skin that is still moist but not fully dry.

If you’re anything like me, this is almost impossible for me to achieve because I do not keep my skincare in the bathroom. After washing my face, I usually pat dry with a towel, then head to my dresser to apply my skincare. So how do I achieve this damp skin effect?

With face mists! 😀 I used to use thermal water mists but these days, I use the Melvita Floral Water because it smells better 🙂 I just spritz the fine mist over my skin, pat it lightly and then apply my serums and face creams. When I use a face oil, my skin seems to soak it up like a sponge! No oily feel, and my skin feels lovely and moist thereafter. Its also quicker so there’s time saved right there 🙂

When I use a lotion (toner) I use it over the face mist too. I keep the whole toning and misting concept separate because to me they perform different functions. I do find that lotions (moisturising toners not clarifying ones) absorb more quickly and I personally believe the products work better this way too and deliver better benefits to my skin.

I’d love to know if you are also practising apply skincare on damp skin? If you haven’t tried this, would you? Do report back if you do try it – would love to know if it works as well for you 🙂

That’s sheer genius. I can’t seem to achieve damp skin either. The moment I step out of the shower and towel dry my hair, my body’s almost dry and my face’s definitely dry. I guess I can apply skincare the moment I step out of the shower but I don’t fancy dripping water all over my bathroom! Will give the face mist a go. I love the idea of face mists. So decadent! 😀

I totally agree with you~~~!!! I have very dry skin and when I apply cream when its damp, both face n body, I wont have the itching feeling thats trigger by dry skin.
It also “heals” my dry, peeling skin because I normally wake up to peeling skin in the morning.

Erm you could try misting your body too 🙂 But when I apply body lotions or oils I don’t usually bother because mine absorb very quickly without feeling sticky and I apply before bed so its all good for me 🙂

great idea! i must try it after i buy the rosewater mist! cant do the lavender cos it has alcohol. oh and boo. im on roaccutane now actually. suffered a terrible hormonal imbalance after i stopped the birth control. but u never know, after this course my skin might be able to take alcohol!

You could just try it with any water you know, not just rose water 😉 Your experience with birth control is really scary – I seem to recall its been a while and the problem hasn’t righted itself? 🙁 I hope it gets better soon!

i notice that if i apply my skincare first (whilst face is damp) by the time i am done, my body is dry, and lotions are more difficult to absorb. so should we also spray mist/ use toner for the body to apply lotion for the effect to take place? or should we just do our body first, then last spray facial mist/ toner to prep em for skincare? it has been puzzling me for ages! and not to mention, when we wash our hair also >.< 3 things to do almost at 1 go!plue recently blogged…Happy Chinese New Year!

Well I’m only really concerned about my facial skincare absorbing properly and well hence I do the mist thing for my face. I don’t quite care about my body (which explains the dry skin on arms and legs oops!) but for the arms, I do apply body oils before I go to bed, partly for the aromatherapy benefits and partly to protect my skin. So, I don’t apply them out of the shower as my oils absorbs very quickly without a sticky or oily feel. I don’t like applying things on my skin after a shower anyway because I like the nice clean feel 😀

What i do for my face and body is to apply body lotion/oil after drying off w a towel in the bathroom. By the time I finish wearing clothes my face has dried up, so I wet my face w toner/face mist, and continue putting my essence and cream.

My skincare is in my bathroom, so I do apply my skincare when my face is damp. Never occured to me that it absorbs better though. Hah! Food for thought… been doing something right without knowing. 😀Lily recently blogged…Monthend Randomness: LOVE, my declaration.

I use my mist even before toner but it will depend on the toner you are using. As Jenn has pointed out, even when using something like the Hada Labo lotion, it actually absorbs much more quickly and becomes less tacky when used on damp skin 😉

I have been using this method since forever, because I was introduced to skincare by my facialist, and she put me on a routine of toner, spritzing Swiss water, then applying a mild Vitamin C cream.

The Swiss water really did help my cream to go on and take effect!

Which is why I always love to use toner, as it helps me face to be moist before everything else.

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Basically, water is known as the universal solvent, and water molecules can automatically enter each cell through water channels in all cells. So any cream molecules that is dissolved in water or stick to water, will be dragged into the cell in an automated process, thereby helping chemical absorption.

In contrast, there is no specific fat channels for oils to automatically go into the cell. But through massaging, rubbing, patting, oils do go in because the cell membrane is made of fats anyway… …

And there are no specific channels for every protein too. So those funny growth protein or what added in your cream/serums are too big to enter. (there are however, specific channels for very very very important proteins or other vitamin molecules etc.)

These factors make water arguably the most efficient method of transport for any remedy administered through the skin.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the scientific part of things Jyoan! 😀 Evidently my science isn’t all that strong to dissect this 😉 But its great to go know that your facialist recommended this so this is probably a hidden gem of a beauty tip!

Thanks for sharing (“,). I try this method right after I read your blog – spray of thermal spa water before applying L’occitane almond oil. The absorption is better than just the oil alone. And does it means I don’t have to wait for my toner to dry before I apply serum, and then wait for the serum to dry before I apply moisturizer?

I picked this tip up from my beautician/aesthetician cousin and have been using it ever since I started using skincare 😀

After cleansing I spray Cellnique Soothing & Hydrating Toner onto my hands and apply it to my face, which makes my face damp. I find that application of subsequent products, be it serum, oils, moisturiser, sunscreen or what-not is much easier too compared to when the skin is dry and skin is much more “boing boing” and well moisturised.

As for body, I find that applying lotions/body oils after a shower = easier application and less greasiness later than applying after a while.Stephanie/Yukaeshi recently blogged…Happy Leap Day!